SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HEATING OR COOLING CONTENTS OF FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS

• Main Author: GALLUS, TIMOTHY, DAVID
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 05.10.2000
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BLASTING; COLD ROOMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT COVERED BY ANY OTHERSUBCLASS; FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BYSUBCLASSES A23B - A23J; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; HUMAN NECESSITIES; ICE-BOXES; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; REFRIGERATORS; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OFNUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; THEIR TREATMENT, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES; WEAPONS

A fluid conveyor jet (140) moves flexible containers or bags (108) along a trough (120) from one station to the next in the trough (120) in a process which efficiently heats or cools the contents of the containers (108). Side fluid jets (136) positioned along opposite sides of the trough (120) direct heating or cooling fluid (water) on the flexible containers (108) at the stations. They direct the fluid generally in spaced horizontal planes on the flexible containers (108) therebetween causing (a) the central contents of the containers (108) to move away from central areas of the container (108) towards the sides to promote temperature transfer between the contents and cooling or heating fluid from the fluid jet conveyor (140) and the fluid jets (136) and, (b) the containers (108) to rotate generally about axes parallel to a longitudinal axis of the trough (120) also helping in the cooling or heating process. The side fluid jets (136) are operatively positioned below the waterline of the trough (120). L'invention concerne un jet fluidique (140) pour transporteur, qui transporte des conteneurs ou sacs souples (108) d'un poste à un autre le long d'une goulotte (120) selon un processus destiné à chauffer ou à refroidir efficacement le contenu desdits conteneurs (108). Des jets fluidiques latéraux (136), positionnés sur les bords opposés de la goulotte (120), dirigent le fluide de chauffage ou de refroidissement (eau) sur les conteneurs souples (108) au niveau des différents postes. Ils dirigent le fluide entre les conteneurs souples (108), sensiblement dans des plans horizontaux séparés d'une certaine distance, de façon que: (a) le contenu situé au centre des conteneurs (108) s'éloigne de la zone centrale du conteneur (108) et se rapproche des bords, ce qui facilite le transfert thermique entre le contenu et le fluide de chauffage ou de refroidissement depuis le transporteur (140) et les jets (136); et (b) les conteneurs (108) tournent sensiblement autour d'axes parallèles à l'axe longitudinal de la goulotte (120), ce qui facilite également le processus de chauffage ou de refroidissement. Les jets fluidiques latéraux (136) sont fonctionnellement disposés au dessous du niveau d'eau à l'intérieur de la goulotte (120).